VietNamNet Bridge – Quang Nam jumped to the top of the V.League rankings after beating nine-man SHB Da Nang 2-0 in their round 23 match yesterday.

Quang Nam jumped to the top of the V.League rankings after beating nine-man SHB Da Nanng 2-0 in their round 23 match yesterday.— Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

Quang Nam have 42 points, one more than FLC Thanh Hoa, who had taken the lead after beating Long An 2-0 on Saturday.

It is the third time in this league that the central region team has led the tournament, and it is expected to win the trophy for the first time in history with only three matches left.

Quang Nam are called ‘King of away ground’ as they have won seven games and drawn one in their 11 matches played away from home.

In the match yesterday, they had to play at Da Nang’s holy land Hoa Xuan Stadium, where the hosts have rarely lost.

The visitors opened the score in the 54th minute when Dos Reis Claudecir converted a setting by Huu Phuoc from the wing into an opening goal.

Claudecir doubled the score passing Da Nang’s defenders to beat the goalie Nguyen Thanh Binh for the second time at the 74th mark.

Earlier, Da Nang’s striker Do Merlo and Gramoz Kurtaj received two red cards and were sent off after they hit Quang Nam’s players.

The shortage of players forced Da Nang to play defensively, and they did not threaten Quang Nam.

At the Binh Duong Province’s Go Dau Stadium, hosts Becamex Binh Duong were tied 1-1 with Can Tho.

Midfielder Ngo Tung Quoc broke an off-side trap to open the score 20 minutes from the game.

Captain Nguyen Anh Duc succeeded with a penalty to level the result 10 minutes to the end.

Both teams are close to the bottom of the league. One point each did not help them change their position.

Can Tho are second last with 19 points and still face relegation.

Former champions Binh Duong are third from the bottom with 23 points. They may have a play-off match, if there is no improvement in the last matches of the tournament.

The HCM City derby saw Sai Gon FC beat HCM City FC 3-1, with all the goals being scored in the second half.

Le Hoang Thien, Ngan Van Dai and Do Van Thuan scored for the hosts, while Nguyen Tuan Anh headed to narrow the score for HCM City in the final seconds.

In the earlier matches on Saturday, Quang Ninh Coal beat Hai Phong 1-0, with the only goal going to Patiyo Tambwe. Sanna Khanh Hoa drew with former champions Song Lam Nghe An 1-1.

The teams will play the round 24 matches next weekend before the V.League is off for two weeks, and the players will be summoned for the 2019 Asian Cup qualification. 

Source: VNS